Experience Peru in style on this 15-day adventure from coastal plains to mountaintop cities. Travelling through Lima, Puno, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes, you’ll explore dramatic Andean landscapes and learn about traditional cultures. Visit the iconic Machu Picchu – one of the New Seven Wonders of the World – and see the citadel from different angles on an optional One Day Inca Trail trek. Share a classic pachamanca meal with the locals in the highlands community of Huilloq. And spend time with the Uros people on their floating islands on Lake Titicaca. With a local leader by your side, you’ll go beneath the surface and come away with a deeper understanding of Peru and its people.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lima, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calie
Lima, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve, Nazca, Arequipa, Puno
13% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Discover the lost land of the Incas and visit Machu Picchu on this 15 day tour of Peru. Starting in Lima we head south to the Ballestas Islands in the Paracas National Reserve. We get to see a huge array of birds and marine mammals on a boat ride through the islands. The next day we head through the Ica Desert on our way to Peru's wine regoin where we visit a winery before travelling to the Oasis of Huacachina where we have a chance to get our hearts pumping on an exhilarating dune buggy ride before settling down for a relaxing evening of camping under the stars. The next morning we are off to see the mysterious Nazca lines before heading to Arequipa for the night. We spend the next 4 days exploring Colca Canyon, we can select from additional activities like white water rafting, cycling, horse riding and trekking. We then travel to Cuzco where we visit some nearby sites before heading back to our hotel to prepare for our next adventure. We head out early the next morning from Cuzco to the Urubamba Valley from where we begin our 4 day trek along the Inca Trail to the unforgettable Machu Picchu. At the end of our trek we head back to Cuzco by train. The next day is free to explore Cuzco at your leisure, the next day you will be transferred to the airport for your departing flight.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Guest House
Age Range
16-85 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Machu Picchu, Lima, Inca Trail
Machu Picchu, Lima, Inca Trail, Cusco, Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve, Huacachina, Arequipa
Machu Picchu and at sunrise
Aquas Caliente hotel on the river
Lake Titicaca, floating islands and the Uros Tribe
Loved having lunch with the locals
Also loved the hotels and meals we had. Great experience!!!
Step out of your regular life, and get back to nature!
The Ancascocha Trek in the Peruvian Andes is a remarkable trail that, unlike other more popular trails, remains off the beaten track and away from crowds. Yet don't be put off by its lesser known status.
Named by National Geographic as one of 20 dream hikes on the World Best Hikes list, this stunning trek takes you past ancient Inca ruins and through traditional Andean villages such as Chillipahua and the trail's namesake Ancascocha (3,700 m). Here you may briefly share the trail with farmers, shepherds and livestock tending to their daily lives far removed from the tourist crowds of Cusco.
Challenge yourself as you climb a number of big passes, including the highest point at the Huayanay Pass (4,650 m). The rewards for your efforts are staggering, with panoramic views across the Andes, cascading waterfalls, crystal blue lakes and the towering 6,266 m Apu Salkantay. At all times, your guide and crew will ensure that the pace is suitable for everyone in the group, taking breaks for rest and food whenever needed.
At the end of each of the first two days of hiking, you will arrive at camp to find your high-quality tent already pitched (complete with mattress and pillow), your gear in place, and your crew preparing a sumptuous dinner. After a night under the most incredible starlit skies, you will be woken right on time with a cup of steaming hot fresh coffee or tea, before sitting down for a nutritious and energizing breakfast. All you need for the day of hiking ahead.
On the third day, you will spend several hours hiking a portion of the Classic Inca Trail, to the sacred valley town of Ollantytambo. This is likely to be the first time you will see other hikers!
Taking the scenic train to Aguas Caliente you will have photo opportunities galore as the train cuts along the valley floor. Your final night will be spent in a comfortable hotel with a group dinner at an excellent local restaurant (drinks not included). Rising as early as you want, your itinerary concludes with a guided tour of Machu Picchu. Witnessing this new wonder of the world is an incredible spectacle that will stay with you forever.
Finally, with your camera loaded with photos and your head full of incredible memories, you will take the train back to Cusco transfer back to your hotel.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Great trip. Beautiful archeological sites and cities included in the itinerary. Would have been helpful for many travelers to know that for the two nights at Machu Picchu you will need an overnight bag for the train ride and hotel stay as your luggage is likely too large for the train to Machu Picchu. Cusco was a great city to walk around and sample a lot of good restaurants.
Adventure
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cusco, Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Cusco, Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
11% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Join us for this adventurous 4-day trek to visit the legendary Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. The trek takes you through the enigmatic Inca Trail, which connects the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. During the trek, explore the numerous pre-hispanic ruins scattered along the Inca Trail, such as Puyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna.
The trail, which runs through the Andes mountain range, travels through a variety of Andean ecosystems, including cloud forest and alpine tundra. The Inca Trail ends at the Sun Gate on Machu Picchu mountain, which provides a unique view of the citadel during sunrise. The trek ends with a guided tour of Machu Picchu and includes bus and train tickets to return to Cusco.
Eco tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
“Classic Peru” is genuinely a “highlights” tour of Southern Peru and what we saw was truly epic; a fascinating blend of Inca history & culture, the stunning scenery of the Andes and the Andean wildlife.
The 2 top highlights, for me, were a) entering the site of Macchu Picchu, shrouded in cloud, only for the wind to gradually blow that cloud away for the dramatic “reveal” and b) to see 5 or 6 Condors (adults & juveniles) gradually rise up the Colca Canyon, on the morning’s thermals, until they were soaring over our heads!
Lima is often written off but is worth a look and we arrived one day early (on Saturday) and visited the Centro Historico on Sunday morning. We were rewarded with a front-row view of the city’s own “changing of the guard” in Plaza de Armas.
The food on the trip is excellent in general and very good value. Our guide, Hector, was also excellent and very focussed on keeping us safe and in good health (managing the gradual increase in altitude, as much as possible); he’s especially knowledgable on all things culture and history.
For me, the only two negatives in the trip were:-
a) the overnight stay on Taquile Island - by all means visit the island but the poor accommodation overshadowed the stay and
b) the misleading advice in the pre-trip literature about currencies and exchange - Explore imply it’s ok to buy Peruvian Sol at Lima airport; DON’T - the rate is terrible. They also say “take US$ because the rate for the GB£ is poor”; ignore that too as the local rates (in forex bureaux) were almost entirely equivalent, so buying US$ in the UK is just a waste of money.
I’m sure Explore can quickly rectify these two things in an otherwise excellent tour.
Active and outdoorRafting
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House, Home-stay
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cusco, Lima, Aguas Calientes, Ma
Cusco, Lima, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Arequipa, Chivay, Puno, Taquile Island, Sacred Valley
Take a deep dive into Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil on an epic 51-day trip. With local leaders guiding you to the best neighbourhoods as well as plenty of time to explore independently, you’ll wonder what took you so long to appreciate this corner of the globe. Trek or train to the lost Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, spend a few days on an estancia in Uruguay, take a 4WD adventure through the Andean desert to the Uyuni salt flats and wind up in all the best cities – Buenos Aires, La Paz and Lima, to name a few. Finish up with beach and party vibes in Brazil – a perfect spot to chill out after your adventure to South America’s hotspots.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Home-stay
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Cusco, Inc
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Cusco, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Puno, La Paz, Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni, Salar De Uyuni, Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve, Tilcara, Buenos Aires, Colonia Del Sacramento, Tacuarembo, Nazca, Foz Do Iguazu, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Arequipa, Chivay
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Arturo was a fantastic leader and guide. Knowledgable, helpful, caring, experienced and amusing. This was my 11th Explore holiday and Arturo is up there with the best guides. The porters and cooks are heroes - we were very happy to tip them generously. The itinerary was perfect, though no one should underestimate the challenge of around ten hours walking on day three. Cusco hotel staff were fine but the layout around a central atrium means the rooms are very noisy. The hotel near Machu Picchu was lovely but the staff were rude, unhelpful and disinterested. Overall I’d fully recommend this trip - but be sure to get into shape beforehand and consider your kit carefully.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
On this 14-day guided tour trip, you will visit the highlights of both Ecuador and Peru. Experience the highlights of the City of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park, the Galapagos Islands: Santa Cruz, El Chato, Charles Darwin Station, Pinzon Island / Isabela Island, Tintoreras, and Cabo Rosa Tunnels.
In Peru, you will have the opportunity to get to know the highlights of the ancient Inca civilization. Explore the city of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the mountain of colors, and Machu Picchu. Visit Inca structures, and learn about the historic Inca settlements and their history.
You will be accompanied by a guide, who will assist you with anything you need. We will also provide you with transportation, accommodation and some meals.
Trekking and HikingWildlife
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
5-80 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Cusco, Machu Picchu, Quito, Lima
Cusco, Machu Picchu, Quito, Lima, Galapagos Islands, Santa Cruz, Sacred Valley, Cotopaxi National Park, Mitad Del Mundo, Isla Isabela, Los Túneles